Finder for photographic instruments.



PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

P. v. AVRIL. FINDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1904.

lilo. 783,665.

NITED STATES Patented February 28, 1905 PATENT OFFICE.

FINDER FOR PHO'I'OGF-"KAPHIC INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,665, dated February28, 1905.

Application filed March 26,1904. Serial No. 200,212.

To all, 1071,0122 it may oncern:

Be it known that I, PAUL Vio'ron AVRIL, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, residing at Paris, France, have invented certain new and usefulln'iprovements in Finders for Photographic Instruments, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a device adapted to be used in connection with aphotographic instrument, and which has for its object to serve as afinder or otherwise as a means for delining the image to bephotographed.

Heretofore finders have consisted of a small mirror mounted in or on aphotographic apparatus. Such mirrors, owing to their small size,liability to be affected by shadows, &c., are unsatisfactory and.diflicult to use. in order to overcome the objections to the use of suchfinders, I have devised the finder which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera of the kodak type, which isshown extended with my improved finder mounted upon the back and in apositionfor use. Fig. 2isasimilar view with the finder in the closedposition. Fig. 3 is a plan view and longitudinal section taken throughthe linderand removed from the camera. Fig. 4c is an elevation of thesupport and vertical section through the finder and is intended toillustrate the means for connecting the finder to its support. Fig. 5 isa horizontal section taken through the support, with a plan view of oneplate of the linder its spring, etc.

Referring to the drawil'igs, A represents a camera, that shown being ofthe construction known as thekodak. Secured to the back of the camera isa detachable support. This support is formed of the back portion and topand bottom portions (J l), which parts overlie the back and top andbottom of the camera and serve to secure such support to the camera. Theconstruction is such, it will be observed, that the support may bereadily slid off of the camera. Secured to the back portion B of thesupport are the plates E, situated slightly above the back portion B, soas to form recesses between the inner sides of such plates and such backportion. Manifestly the described support is applicable only to a camerahaving the shape of that shown in the drawings. For other forms ofcamerasuch, for instance, as the box or square type-any suitable form ofsupport may be used.

Instead of using a detachable support the means for holding the findermay form a part of the camera itself. This will be snliicientl y obviouswithout further description.

Mounted in the support and arranged to be movable therein, so as to occupy two positions, (respectively shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) is the finder.The finder consists of a plate F, movable in its support and having acentral opening G. The plate F and the opening (it are shown assubstantially rectangular. They may, however, be of any shape. Carriedby the plate F is a plate H, the inner end of which is provided withupwardly and downwardly extending projections I, which are introducedinto the opening (it at one side and bear upon the rear side of theplate F. This plate 11 is bent at its end to the left and thencircularly forward to the right, as indicated at J and K. The forwardend of the plate curved to the right, as shown at L. Connected to theplate F through a staple M is a spring N, one end of which coacts withthe staple. The other end 0 of the spring is bent upwardly and lies inthe cavity of the circular portion K of the plate l'l. This spring formsa simpleand convenient means for holding the plate H in the openposition.

I do notin any wise limit myself to the construction of the plate ll,its mode of attachment to the plate F, or to the constructioi'i of thespring for'holding it open. Any means of attachment and any springdevice may be used.

Hinged to the forward end of the plate l[ is a second plate P, having anopening Q. This opening may be substantially rectangular, as shown, orof other shape, but preferably the shape of the openings (i and Q shouldcorrespond. The plate P is hinged on the plate H at R, and a helicalspring S is used to hold the plate 1, when the plates II and P are open,in the open position a, in the position shown in Fig. l.

The width of the top, bottom, and sides of the plates F and P should besuch as to thoroughly isolate the object sighted through the openings GQ from its surroundings.

Situated on the front of the plate F, on its right-hand side, is a hookT, which serves to hold the plates H and P in the closed position. Anyother suitable device may be used for the purpose.

In the construction shown to close and secure the plates P and H theplate .1 is first folded upon the plate H, then both plates turnedtoward the plate F and as they approach the plate F pushed downward, sothat the upper edge of the plate H will move under The shape i the hookT, as indicated in Fig. 2. of the plate H at its rear end permits thismovement.

The construction of the device as a whole is one which I find convenientin use; but I do not limit myself in any wise to the particular featuresof construction as described, as it is obvious that many changes may bemade therein without departing from the intent of my invention.

The line of vision in finding a picture is indicated by the dotted lineU. It will at once be seen that when the eye of the operator is placedin front of the opening Q in the plate P the picture defined will havethe diameter of the opening G in the plate F.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A self-contained finderfor photographic instruments, comprising two plates having openingstherein differing in size. and with their tops, bottoms and sides ofsuflicient width to isolate the object sighted from its surroundings, athird plate interposed between said plates and hinged thereto,and aresilient means for maintaining said plates in the open position.

2. A self-contained finder for photographic instruments, comprising twoplates having openings therein differing in size, with their tops,bottoms and sides of sufficient width to isolate the object sighted fromits surroundings, a third plate hinged to said first-named plates, andmeans for holding said plates in substantially parallel relation when inthe closed position.

3. A self-contained finder for photographic instruments, comprising asupportingplate, means for detachably connecting said plate to aphotographic instrument, two plates having openings therein differing insize and with their tops, bottoms and sides of' sufiieient width toisolate the object sighted from its surroundings, means for defining thedistance between said plates when in the open position and for holdingsaid plates in substantially parallel relation when in the closedposition.

4:. A self-contained finder for photographic instruments, comprising asupporting-plate, means for detachably connecting said plate to aphotographic instrument, an image-defining having an opening therein, adistance-plate hinged to said second-named plate, and a sighting-platehaving an opening therein and hinged to said third-named plate, meansfor holding the second and fourth named plates parallel when open, andmeans for holdingall of the plates substantially parallel when closed.

5. Aself-contained finder for photographic instruments, comprising aplate having an opening therein, a second plate havingan opening thereinof smaller size, a plate interposed between the two which fixes thedistance between the first and second named plates when the finder is inthe open position, means for holding the first and second named platesin parallel relation when the finder is open, and means for holding allof the plates in substantially parallel relation when the finderisclosed.

6. A self-contained finder for photographic instruments, comprising asupport, a plate movable in said support and having an opening thereinof definite size, a plate having a hinged connection to said first-nan]ed plate, and a third plate hinged to said second-named plate and havingan opening therein corresponding to but differing in size from theopening in the first-named plate.

7. A self-contained finder for photographic instruments, comprising aplate having an opening therein, a second plate having projections ontherear end thereof adapted to bear on the rear of said first-named plate,a third plate hinged to the second-named plate and having an openingtherein corresponding to but differing in size from the opening in thefirst-named plate, and a spring device interposed between the first andsecond named plates.

8. A self-contained finder for photographic instrmnents, comprising aplate having an opening therein, a second plate having projections onthe rear end thereof adapted to bear on the rear of said first-namedplate, a third plate hinged to the second-named plate and having anopening therein corresponding to but differing in size from the openingin the first-named plate, a spring device interposed between the firstand second named plates, and a spring device interposed between thesecond and third named plates.

9. A folding iocket-finder,comprising three hinged plates, one of themprovided with a large-size opening, another with a small-size opening,and the third adapted to define the distance between the first andsecond named plates when the finder is open, together with means forholding the plates in substantially parallel relation when the finder isclosed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

PAUL VIUIOR AVRIL.

\Vitnesses:

J. E. PEARSOX', FRANK OCouuoa.

